The State Government has drawn a ₹3,000 crore plan for flood mitigation exercises, particularly in the coastal districts, to avoid flooding that causes colossal loss to life and property, K. Satyagopal, Commissioner for Revenue Administration and Director of Disaster Management has said.
“Since Government of India has approved this proposal, the detailed project report has been forwarded to the World Bank for its final nod,” Dr. Satyagopal told reporters here on Saturday after chairing the public hearing on the proposed creation of Tenkasi district.
He said the State Government that allocated ₹100 crore for flood mitigation programme in Cuddalore, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur and Chennai districts in 2017 and has extended it to other vulnerable areas of Tamil Nadu, particularly the coastal districts through the ₹3,000 crore proposal.
The project, covering coastal districts and 4,399 vulnerable urban areas of Tamil Nadu, including 124 in Tirunelveli district, was proposed by Department of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management and forwarded to the Centre for its approval. The proposed project will ensure the deepening of hitherto uncared for irrigation tanks in urban areas and desilting of associated channels to avoid flooding.
To make flood mitigation exercise more effective, the Department of Disaster Management and Mitigation, using drones, had completed aerial surveys of rivers across Tamil Nadu and the watercourse to locate encroachments and natural obstacles that hamper the flow of water and consequently cause flooding of residential areas. Besides digitising the surveys for future references, steps have been initiated to remove the illegal structures and the obstacles along the river course.
“Moreover, this survey will also help in constructing check-dams across rivers at vantage points. Besides saving precious water for irrigation and drinking purposes of that particular region, the surplus water can be diverted to nearby parched areas,” Dr. Satyagopal said.
He also appealed to the public to download TN-Smart mobile app on their phones to keep themselves updated on rainfall, flooding and other related information so as to take appropriate measures to save themselves.
